PSVAR rail exemption extended

An extension until 31 December 2020 for non-PSVAR compliant buses and coaches to perform rail replacement work has been announced.

The government has published a letter allowing applications to extend the period of non-accessibility compliance for PCVs performing rail replacement duties. The exemption is subject to the conditions that train operating companies (TOCs) must source and use compliant vehicles wherever possible in the first instance, only using non-complaint vehicles that have been granted a special authorisation when other options have been exhausted.

When no compliant vehicle is available, TOCs must provide alternative accessible transport for disabled passengers that offer the same levels of service as those for non-disabled passengers with no detriment to those passengers. Arrangements must be made in advance during planned engineering works to ensure alternative accessible transport is readily available.

This supersedes the previous exemption that was due to end on 30 April 2020.

The government’s full announcement can be read here.